Power aquaplane



R. w. STRAWN POWER AQUAPLANE' Sept. 28, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1936 I F f H I I'l 1);

Sept. 28, 1937. R. w. STRAWN POWER AQUAPLANE Filed May 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 421 872 1511 fi lmo'na 114 1517? Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNHTED STTS PTEN'E" FFHQE l Claim.

This invention relates more specifically to that type of water craft known as aquaplanes which are usually towed by power launches and the like, and, an important object is to provide a construction in which the motive power is carried by the craft and controlled by the rider.

An important object is to provide an aquaplane construction in which the rider may control the speed of the motive means during its movement, said control means instantly stopping movement of the craft in the event that the rider should fall off the same.

Another important object is to provide a power aquaplane construction in which air may be freely admitted to the housing or keel in which the motor is mounted to support combustion of said motor, and at the same time prevent the entrance of water thereinto.

Another object is to provide a water plane construction in which the motive means is enclosed in a housing formed on the under side of the plane, said housing acting as a boat keel to steady the plane during its operation.

A still further object is to provide a craft of the character described so constructed that the motive power is enclosed in a water tight compartment, which may be easily carried, quickly launched and which will remain afloat although it should become capsized.

I accomplish the above and other objects by means of the apparatus disclosed in the accompanying specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is top plan view of the improved aquaplane.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken through the craft showing the carburetor and remote control apparatus for operating the same.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, l9 designates the body of the craft which has a flat top or deck I l and hollow side portion i2 between which are portioned a hollow keel designated at E3. It will be understood that the side portion may be formed of wood if desired.

The keel is of the shape usually employed in boat construction and in the present instance not only serves to stabilize but acts as a hull to receive the motive power of the craft. Mounted in the keel adjacent its rear end, is an internal combustion engine designated at M (of the marine type) the crank or power shaft of which is interconnect-- ed through gearing it to a propeller shaft l6. Shaft It extends through suitable packing H mounted in the end wall it of the keel and secured 5 to the outer end thereof is a propeller iii of usual form.

The intake manifold 20 of engine 14 is connected to the outlet of a carburetor 2! of special design which may be referred to as a floatless carburetor i. e. one which will not discharge liquid fuel in the event that the craft should be cap-sized. Fuel is supplied to the carburetor through a pipe leading to a tank 22 that is adapted to be filled through a nipple that projects above the deck and is normally closed by a removable cap 24.

An important feature of the present invention resides in a pneumatically operated means for actuating the throttle valve of the carburetor outside of the keel and which will automatically close the same (thereby stopping the engine) in case the rider should fall off the craft, said means being arranged as follows:

Mounted in an air-tight housing 25 is diaphram 26 that is connected through suitable links 2i and levers 28 to the throttle valve (not shown) of the carburetor. Communicating with the housing is a short conduit 29 from which extends a flexible tube 30 upwardly therefrom through suitable packing 3| (mounted in the top or deck) and is connected to a rubber bulb 32. This bulb is provided with an air inlet check valve (not shown) and has formed thereon a vacuum cup 33 whereby it may be removably secured to the deck at any desired location.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the bulb is pressed the throttle valve of the carburetor will be opened and when released will be closed resulting in the engine being slowed down or stopped according to the adjustment of the said valve.

The exhaust gases from the engine pass out through a pipe 33 having a loop at therein that is enclosed in a water tight housing 35, said 45 housing serving to protect the pipe and user of the craft, while the loop acts as a trap to prevent water from working back into the engine exhaust manifold.

Indirectly connected with the crank shaft of engine it is a starter mechanism 36 of the gen eral type commonly known as Bendix said mechanism being manually operatable to start the engine through a cable 37 one end of which is secured to a pulley or drum 33 mounted on a fixed shaft and returned to normal position by helical spring 39.

Cable 37 extends from drum 38 over a pulley 40 thence through packing il carried by the deck and is connected to a ring or handle 42 whereby the rider may start the engine upon pulling on the cable one or more times in the manner of starting outboard motor boats.

Mounted on the deck adjacent the forward end of the craft and communicating with the interior of the hollow keel is an air admitting device generally designated at 14 that not only serves to admit air into the keel for operation of the engine but to prevent water in any appreciable amounts from entering the same and is constructed as follows:

Secured to the deck in register with an opening therein is a short nipple 45 to which is secured a conduit 45 (formed of flexible material) which in turn is connected to a tubular member 41 having a plurality of apertures 48 formed therein adjacent its upper end. Mounted on the upper end of member l! is a cap 59 and disposed therein below the apertures 38 is a screen 50 which serves to prevent spray or the like from entering the tube.

Formed in the deck above the keel is an opening 5| that is covered by a member 52 in which is slidably mounted the stem of a relief valve 53 that is normally held closed by a spring 54, said relief valve serving to allow the escape of ignited gas in the event that the engine should back-fire during starting of the same.

Steering of the craft is efiected by a usual rudder 56 secured to a vertically disposed shaft 51 that is journalled in a bearing 53. Secured to the upper end of shaft 5? is a pulley 59 over which passes an endless cable 6% that also extends over a pulley 6i portioned adjacent the forward end of the craft. Pulley 6! is secured to a shaft 52 that extends above the deck and secured to said shaft is a cross bar 53, the opposite ends of which are connected to flexible cables 64. Connected to the outer or free ends of the cables are handles by which the craft may be steered through parts above described, it being understood that the cable 50 should be crossed in the usual manner to effect proper turning of the rudder.

Positioned in the keel is a plurality of plates 56 each of which has an opening 61 therein to permit passage therethrough of the cable 60, and openings 68 to allow passage of any water which might enter the keel chamber through air admitting device 44. Any water accumulating on the bottom of the keel may be removed by a small centrifugal pump 69 that is driven through gearing H! from the propeller shaft ll the discharged water from the pump being conveyed to a point outside of the keel in any suitable manner.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel motorized aquaplane, in which the operator or rider assumes the same standing position thereon during its operation as in such aquaplanes that are now towed by power water craft. Further, as it is provided with its own motive power the operator may direct its movement to suit his convenience, and when operating the plane on the sea or over rough water steer the same to avoid capsizing the craft. Also it will be noted that an operator of my power aquaplane can experi ence all the thrills that usually accompany the operation of non-motorized planes or surf boards, accurately controlling its movement over the sur face of the water without the attendant dangers that are usually connected with the operation of towed aqua-planes.

I claim:

An aquaplane construction comprising a flat hollow supporting member, a hollow keel to the underside for stabilizing said member during its passage through the water, an internal combustion engine mounted in the keel, a carburetor of usual form connected to the engine for vaporizing the fuel to supply fuel to the engine, a propeller connected to said engine at its rear to drive the aquaplane, means to start the operation of the engine from the exterior of said supporting member, an air inlet device arranged to admit air to the hollow keel and to exclude water therefrom, an exhaust conduit connected to said engine having a water trap at its discharge end, and a pneumatic throttle operating means adjustably mounted on the surface of said supporting member adapted for manual operation.

RAYMOND W. STRAWN. 

